Florida Hoard

Heading down to my parents place in Florida tomorrow morning where I'll be taking ownership of my Dad's old coin collection. It wasn't so much of a collection as it was old coins he saved when he was in his 20s and 30s (none of them were ever 'protected' and from what I remember ... they're pretty black having spent the last 15 years on the humid south). Could just be a nice load of 'junk' silver, but I'm hopeful for a key date or two.

Still, I'm kind to tingly with anticipation!

Lots of Morgans, Walkers and Mercury dimes from what I remember.

Quick question - if they are just "junk", is there any harm in my cleaning them up a bit? Suggestions?

Susan

 

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Do NOT CLEAN COINS. You will do more harm than good. If you must have them cleaned have NCS in Tampa do the cleaning.

 

Thanks Boxeldercoin. I know you should never clean a coin ... but assuming that the coin(s) have no value above and beyond melt, does it make a difference? Are you losing silver weight? I'm really just curious if the cleaning issue pertains to junk silver.

 

A dip in acetone will do no harm if done correctly.

 

The question is, if they're just junk silver, why do you want to clean them? They're not silverware, polishing them is pointless.
If they are nice key dates or BUs, then yes, you can get them conserved. But usually it's not really worth it.
This isn't directed to you in particular, but I just don't really understand why people want to clean up coins so bad. A while ago, my buddy's dad found a black barber dime in a house they just bought, and I told him a million times don't clean it, you'll do more damage than good. And of course, one day, I came by and the thing was cleaned, with nice little hairline scratches and a lousy, grey lusterless color.

 

you could always keep them all and work on the collection

 

Lon Chaney, you ask a fair question and here's my reply.

If the coins are not key dates and have no value above and beyon junk silver, I don't really have a desire to sell them for melt value. I rather use them towards building out sets. If they didn't have numismatic value, it would be nice to at least have them where I can 'see' the coin.

With that said, the likelihood that I would go ahead and actually clean the coin is not very high. I was just curious on the junk silver <-> cleaning issue.

 

the grey tone doesn't add as much weight as the black does. But if just junk, weight is weight.

 

Thanks Zach and everyone for your input. I'm excited to see what he had and maybe they're in better condition than I remember

 

I think you should make an inventory list of the coins to research mintages & values

 

Don't clean them.
Even if they are currently worth only melt, one day they may have a premium, you never know, and a cleaning cannot be undone.

 

Also check for errors and varieties

 

I'm already on the edge of my seat waiting to see what coins/dates/conditions/varieties and she hasn't even left yet! Have a safe trip Susan, and please-don't make us wait too long !!

 

LOL, my plane takes off in two hours. I'll post details from FL by mid-week!!! If there's anything juicy, I'll post pics as soon as I get home.
Thanks all

 

Safe trip & happy hunting......

 

I wouldn't even use acetone till you know what you are doing.

Just leave them alone.

 

good luck!

and post pics!!!

 

Probably by the time you read this, you will have already landed in Florida. Where in Florida are you headed? As I type this, it is raining pretty hard in the Cape Coral/Ft. Myers area of Southwest Florida.

I'm with everyone else. Don't clean them! Don't dip them! Even acetone, IF NOT USED PROPERLY, can harm a coin. Leave the patina intact, no matter how dark it may be. As you will learn, there are collectors for everything.

Chris

 

I agree and let us know some of the finds. I can't wait to here.

 

I cook some of my junk silver. And have even been able to identify some badly tarnished ones by by doing so. As to whether it harms the value ? What can you get for a coin that is very badly tarnished anyway. And all but slabbed coins seem to get "dipped" by someone at some point.